Province : Vayots Dzor
distance from Yerevan : 2hrs drive
Entrance fee : Free

A beautifully preserved Monastic complex is built in the 13th c. Middle Ages

There are 3 churches on site all with beautiful ornate architecture and intricate designs and many beautiful traditional Armenian khatchkars

Its best known for its 2 storey Surb Astvatsatsin (Holy Mother of God) Church, which you can access via a reall narrow stone staircase, which has now been BLOCKED OFF 😦 very sad but you cant climb this anymore and this was one of the highlights

Noravank was founded in 1105 by Bishop Hovhannes and was the residence for the Orbelian princes

only a 2hr drive from Yerevan

SURB ASTVATSATSIN

The back of Surb Astvatsatsin church as seen as you enter the complex from the parking lot

This church was completed in 1339 by sculture Momik who also designed it

Its such an artistic monument and reminiscent of the tower like burial structures of the first years of Christianity in Armenia

The ground floor was a burial vault and the top floor was a temple

The monastic complex
The downstairs area of Surb Astvatsatsin church – very basic and still has dirt and dust as the ground with jutting tomb stones in some areas
Surb Karapet Church

A cross shaped church built in 1216-1227

In 1340 an earthquake destroyed the dome which has now been reconstructed in 1361

The graves of the Orbelians are outside Infront of this church and they belong to members of the Orbelian dynasty, which patronized Noravank Monastery in the Middle Ages.

The church houses Prince Smbat Orberlians mausoleum
Candles and crosses
The roof is really impressive! I love the stream of angelic white light shining in
Lighting candles is important to the locals who were here for a christening
The tombstones on the ground of the church inside, some were cracked but all were beautiful and ornate with engravings

Noravank was an important location for the cultural and arts of the time in Armenia and centre of artistic production